Ph.D. Berta Galán Corta

MPhil. in Material Science form Bath University (U.K.) and Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Cantabria and nowadays a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the University of Cantabria, UC, Spain. She is involved (1992/Present) in the UC Chemical Engineering Degree and Master/Doctorate Programs “Chemical Engineering and Process Engineering”. The research activity developed is focused on subjects related to the simulation and optimization of chemical and environmental processes and industrial plants. Collaboration in Research and Development Projects at International, European and National level as well as transference results projects with the industrial sector. She has participated in more than 25 SCI papers, 1 invention patent, 40 International Congress and 1 Ph Thesis supervision, obtaining 3 research periods of 6 years from the Spanish Education Ministry. During 1998 and 2010 developed research stays of 6-8 months at the Chemical Engineering Department of the Carnegie Mellon University (USA).

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The ninth International Conference on the Environmental and Technical Implications of Construction with Alternative Materials “WASCON 2015”, June, 10th-12th, Santander, Spain

Contribution:

Poster

Proceedings:

Libro de comunicaciones. ISBN 978‐84‐606‐8422‐0

Abstract:

In this study, influence of measures adopted to improve CDW management in Cantabria are evaluated based on results obtained from the indicator proposed, which track the evolution over time of management of this waste stream in the region and the degree of achievement of policy objectives. Apart from that, actions carried out are analysed compared with actions proposed in the Plan, giving as a result a global analysis of the situation of CDW management in Cantabria and its evolution along Regional Plan validity years. Results obtained displays a global improvement of the management of this waste stream in Cantabria thanks to measures adopted, from 0% CDW recycling in 2009 to reach near 90% of recycling in 2013. However, the lack of incentives and regulations to high-grade applications of recycled aggregates produces that resources obtained ended up in low-grade applications, having as a result downcycling instead of closing loops. All this information, is useful to emphasize shortcomings of the current management system, helping to propose actions needed from now on to improve total resources recovery of this waste stream. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the usefulness of Regional plans to evaluate the actual situation and to help decision making related to waste management, being the use of indicators helpful to study influence of measures or incentives in the final management of waste.

Potential CO2 leakages from CCS storage sites and accidental chemical spills change the pH of the seawater decreasing it to extreme pH values in specific sea areas for a limited period of time. These acidic pH values cause the release of pollutants from sediment and provoke toxic effects to receptor organisms.

The BAS (Biofilm Activated Sludge) process is comprised of MBBR (Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor) pre-treatment followed by conventional AS (activated sludge) which presents several advantages in comparison with conventional wastewaters technologies. In this study the BAS process is used for the treatment of wastewaters coming from a viscose and cellulose industry. Initially, the process is simulated using a wastewater process simulator BioWin under the three different scenarios and the experimental results are compared with the simulated results. Later on, the optimization of the process is carried out by the minimization of the operation cost since the nutrient dosage of N and P can be reduced until the COD percentage removal is affected. Finally, the introduction of urban waters together with the industrial wastewaters is studied to minimize the costs of the addition of chemicals nutrients.

The evolution of the studied metal release with time from the CEN/TS 14997 standard is addressed at various pH values in the range of 4-7. The obtained kinetic results are a useful tool for the assessment of metal release from sediment under potential pH changes and for the performance of a pre-incidental planning before the implantation of CCS technologies in the North of Spain.

The present study performs an assessment of existing risk assessment tools literature to evaluate storage phase of CCS taking into account the mobilisation of metals from contaminated marine sediment as consequence of seawater acidification due to the CO2 leakages. The use of SOM allows the integration of variables in order to classify leaching tests conditions according to their similar leaching behaviour.

The aim of this work is to characterize contaminated sediment from an estuarine area in the continental shelf of the Cantabrian Sea (northern Spain) in order to assess the environmental significance of pollution in sediment and to assess the best management option as dredged material. The studied area, reserved as a potential CO2 store, is characterized by a high industrial activity and by a considerable urban density.

The European Commission considers Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) as a priority waste stream due to the large amounts generated. Cantabria is a northern Spanish region where new CDW legislation (BOC, 2010) has been developed and, as a consequence, a network of CDW distribution with recycling facilities and transfer stations needs to be properly located. This work deals with this objective by means of an optimization model that takes into account not only economical and environmental criteria but social aspects of the region as well. The proposed final network includes three facilities: two recycling plants and one transfer station. The municipality where each facility must be located, the capacity of them and the distribution network of the waste is also determined.

This study provides a better knowledge of key parameters controlling the mobility of metals from contaminated marine sediment in contact with acidified seawater using static and dynamic leaching tests. Experimental results of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn are modeled with Visual MINTEQ geochemical software to predict metal release from sediment. The obtained results would be useful as a line of evidence input for the risk assessment of CCS site where acidified seawater at different concentrations of CO2 is in contact with sediment.

The objective of this work is to generate new knowledge about the potential effects of CO2 leakages on contaminated marine sediment in CCS systems by means of the analysis and assessment of the mobility of metals and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the effects on the biota mimicking CO2 leakages in sub-seabed geological formations.

The contribution shows the approaches to valorize the main compounds of the spent sulfite liquor from digestion process: (i) improving delignification step of the wood chips avoiding sugar denaturalization and the inhibitor compounds for the next fermentation processes, and (ii) completing the depolymerization of the carbohydrate polymers, obtaining the same quality of dissolving pulp.

WASCON 2012 - 8th International Conference on the Environmental and Technical Implications of Construction with Alternative Materials. Gothenburg (Sweden), 30 May to 1 June 2012. http://www.swedgeo.se/wascon2012

Contribution:

Poster, WASCON POSTER PRIZE

Proceedings:

Proceedings of the Wascon 2012

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is the identification of the location and capacity of the transfer stations and processing plants and the corresponding management network by means of an optimization model that minimizes: (i) medium transportation distance (ii) total management costs (installation, operation and landfill) with and without administrative predefined areas. The model is formulated as MILP problem where the binary variables represent the presence or not of management facilities at a location. GAMS is used as a high-level modelling system for the resolution of the mathematical programs. The obtained results show very different C&DW treatment networks with total cost ranging from 3.53 to 4.34 mill €/y and medium transport distance ranging from 14.77 to 24.10 km.

WasteEng 2012. 4th International Conference on Engineering for Waste and Biomass Valorisation, Porto, Portugal, 10 to 13 September 2012. http://www.wasteeng2012.org/

Contribution:

Oral

Proceedings:

Proceedings of the The 4th International Conference on Engineering for Waste and Biomass Valorisation (WasteEng12). Vol. 1, 166-171. ISBN: 979-10-91526-00-5. Edited by A, Nzihou and F. Castro.

Abstract:

The aim of this work is to study the main digestion variables, dwell time, temperature, ramp rate, SO2 content and liquor/wood ratio which affect the delignification process of hardwood chips to obtain dissolving pulp in order to develop a statistical model with all these variables and optimize the quantity of total fermentable sugars and lignosulphonates presented in spent sulfite liquors using GAMS software.

The main objective of this work is the development of the model which predicts the mobility of Pb and Zn under different scenarios of contaminated sediment-CO2 acidified seawater contact. The equilibrium results are fit to Freundlich isotherms and the adjusted parameters have been calculated. A porosity kinetic model of the evolution of Pb and Zn concentrations with L/S is proposed; the model allows to estimate the superficial diffusivity of the intra-particle Zn and Pb parameter as 5.43·10-12 cm2/s and 1.05·10-12 cm2/s, respectively.

The global environmental impact of industrial production has increasing due to the scarcity of raw materials and the large amount of waste generated. Ecoinnovation promotes integrated initiatives such as closed-loop production by the incorporation of waste flows on industrial processes as substitutes of raw materials. The clay-based ceramic industry is considered a proper alternative for solid waste incorporation due to the immobilization in the ceramic matrix of some potentially toxic metals contained in the waste after the firing process. This work presents an updated review of available literature on the potential incorporation of different solid wastes in ceramics. The industrial wastes were classified according to the European Waste List (EWC) and the role played by the waste in the ceramic has been also studied. According to this review numerous kinds of wastes have being successfully incorporated into clayey ceramics; in some cases, this incorporation has proved to be technological acceptable and environmentally friendly.

This research evaluates the risk of CO2 leakages from CCS technology through the effect of different type of water (deionized water, seawater and CO2 acidified seawater) on the leaching release of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn from contaminated marine sediments by means of a geochemical modeling (Visual Minteq software). Column and equilibrium leaching tests were carried out on marine sediments as a function of different L/S ratios and pH. An important challenge lies in combining leaching results and geochemical modeling to provide insight into the mechanisms involved in contaminant mobility and possible explanations for field observations.

The aim of this work is to study the sugar and inhibitor characterization of the obtained liquor in different digestion conditions in order to improve the fermentation process. Acid sulfite pulping process has been studied in 1-liter reactors at laboratory scale. In this case, sulfite pulp is produced by a calcium magnesium bisulfite process based on eucalyptus wood at high temperature and pressure conditions in order to separate the fibers from lignin. Sugars and inhibitors have been analyzed by liquid chromatographic technique with refractive index detector.

A general super-structure is proposed for the design of a wastewater networks for removing five types of contaminants (suspended solids, heavy metals, inorganic salts, organic contaminants unsuitable for biological treatment and organic contaminants suitable for biological treatment) using until 13 types of Best Available Technologies (BAT) technologies. The removal of the contaminants follows a specified sequence to avoid reducing the efficiency in the downstream technologies. The application of this superstructure, which is modeled as an MINLP, is illustrated for the design of a wastewater network for a metal finishing industry.

Batch and column leaching tests were performed on contaminated marine sediment from the north of Spain at different liquid-to-solid ratios (LS) to determine the mechanisms controlling metal release. This study evaluates the effect of different type of water and pH (deionized water, seawater and acidified seawater) on the release behavior of pH, conductivity, TOC and Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb. The workstudy the potential impact of CO2 leakages from Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies used as climate change mitigation option.

The objective of this research is to study the availability, mobility and pH effects of substances from marine sediments in contact to potential CO2 leakages via batch (static) and column (dynamic) leaching tests. Leaching data of pH, conductivity, TOC and constituent release (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb) was compared from the different type of leaching tests providing the basis to the risk assessment of the Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology.